Three Charged With Cambridge Sex Assaults

Three Libyan soldiers, being trained by the Ministry of Defence at Bassingbourne Barracks, have been charged in connection with three sexual assaults on women in Cambridge.

The charges relate to reports of attacks on Sunday.

18 year old Khaled El Azibi from Old North Road in Bassingbourne is charged with two counts of sexual assault.

Ibrahim Naji El Maarfi, 20, from Old North Road, Bassingbourne, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of exposure.

Mohammed Abdalsalam, 27, from Old North Road, Bassingbourne, has been charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of the use of threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour to cause harassment/alarm/distress against a police officer.

All three men are due to appear at Cambridge Magistrates' Court this afternoon.

Police say investigations into a separate serious sexual assault on Sunday at around 2am on Christ's Pieces in Cambridge are continuing.

Cambridgeshire Police added that specially trained officers have spent time with the victim to get more details about the attack.

Detective Inspector Sarah Smith said: "I would urge anyone who has any information about this incident or the men responsible to contact police.

We are treating this extremely seriously and have a team of officers working on the case. As a precaution patrols have been increased in the city centre."

A spokesperson for the Army said: "We can confirm that three Libyan soldiers undergoing training at Bassingbourn Camp have been charged with offences relating to incidents in Cambridge.

This is a matter for the civilian police and it would not be appropriate to comment any further at this stage.

We have a close working relationship with the Cambridgeshire Police and will continue to assist them in any enquiries."